A scorching heat wave blanketing parts of Southern California is expected to extend through the weekend, pushing temperatures well above 100 degrees in valleys and inland areas while continuing to create dangerous fire conditions across the state.
Temperatures in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys on Saturday were expected to range from the mid-90s to a high of 105 degrees, while the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys were likely to see highs of up to 115 degrees, officials said.
“We could be approaching or surpassing record highs in Lancaster and Palmdale,” said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Scorching heat has been breaking records across the state this week, with Palm Springs hitting 124 degrees on Friday, breaking the all-time record of 123 degrees set in 2021, 1995 and 1993.
In Death Valley, the mercury rose to 127 degrees on Friday, and was expected to climb to 128 degrees on Saturday, the weather service warned.
Extreme heat, low humidity and high winds prompted officials to issue a red flag warning over the weekend along the Highway 5 corridor and in the foothills of the Antelope Valley, Sirard said.
A man plays soccer against a wall in Venice Beach during a warm afternoon.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“Fires are dangerous anywhere,” he said, “but this one is actually a bigger danger. [Fires] “It will spread rapidly, explosively and is extremely dangerous for firefighters.”
Firefighters, affected by scorching temperatures, continued to battle numerous wildfires across California on Saturday. The largest is the Basin Fire in Fresno County, which began on June 26. The blaze, which has burned 14,027 acres, was 46% contained as of early Saturday.
Fire crews were just beginning to gain control of the French Fire, which started on July 4 and had threatened the town of Mariposa, just outside Yosemite National Park. The 908-acre blaze, which prompted temporary mandatory evacuations and closed State Route 140 leading into the park, was 25% contained.
In Southern California, a fire in Santa Barbara County had reached 11,000 acres (4,673 hectares) by Saturday morning and was not contained, officials said. The Lake Fire, burning near Zaca Lake in the Santa Ynez Valley, prompted an evacuation order early Saturday for an area north of Zaca Lake Road, east of Foxen Canyon Road and south of the Sisquoc River.
Temperatures in the 90s and very low humidity overnight fueled the fire's spread, while a layer of warm air above the blaze had trapped smoke near the ground, Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Scott Safechuck said in a post on the social media platform X.
Further south, the Rancho Fire, which was reported Friday night, burned about 13 acres of brush along Highway 101 near Thousand Oaks.
Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Andy VanSciver said in a video posted on X that the Rancho Fire had been contained by about 7 p.m. Friday. After stopping its advance, firefighters worked through the night to extinguish hot spots, he said.
Charlie Hammond, left, and Pierre Mordacq relax on Venice Beach during a warm Tuesday afternoon.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
In Riverside County, firefighters have brought the 70-acre Hills Fire near Juniper Springs under control, with 75% containment as of Saturday afternoon.
Authorities had evacuated an area near where the fire started Friday afternoon at Juniper Flats Road and Mapes Road in Homeland. People affected by the evacuations were sent to Tahquitz Middle School in Hemet and the Riverside County Animal Shelter in San Jacinto.
Meanwhile, residents of valleys and inland areas of Los Angeles County are urged to stay indoors during the day if possible and avoid walking, even in areas that may feel cool at sea level.
“Even in the Santa Monica Mountains, which are close to the coast, once you get above a certain elevation, 1,500 feet, it’s going to get very, very hot,” Sirard said.
Courson Park pool lifeguard Ellie Gonzales, right, watches over swimmers as temperatures soared into triple digits Wednesday in Palmdale.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Sirard said people should adopt common-sense practices, such as staying hydrated during the day and wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing. If you want to sunbathe, head to the beaches, Sirard said, where temperatures range from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
“If people want to beat the heat this weekend, the coast is the place to go,” he said.
The city of Los Angeles has opened four cooling centers over the weekend where people can find relief from the heat:
Lake View Terrace Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd., Lake View Terrace
Mid-Valley Senior Center, 8825 Kester Ave., Panorama City
Fred Roberts Recreation Center, 4700 S. Honduras St., Los Angeles
Jim Gilliam Recreation Center, 400 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles
Los Angeles County's network of more than 150 cooling centers, located at libraries, parks and community centers, can be found here.
